Darkness at the Heart of the World
Sora had made a lot of memories with his memories with his friend. Each world, each new companion, each new adventure added to his memories and all those memories connected him to his heart. From when he met Donald and Goofy, he had made too friends that while could never replace Riku and Kairi, helped him in traversing a unknown and wider universe than he had ever known. In Wonderland, he found a place of imagination and wildness, something unique that did not follow the rules of the everyday and mundane. In Agrabah, he found a city in decay and that everything could be rosy and sunny as he was used too. Neverland, the world where one could never grow up and time remained still, imagination reigned and he had to learn to think differently than he had in awhile. Each world a memory, each memory precious.
Now standing on floating jagged rock platforms in the middle of a empty void, in the center of each platform was a green beam of light. Sora looked and tried to find some sort of way to get from one platform to the next yet there didn't seem to be any hidden path and their pixie dust supplied needed to be spared. It seemed the deeper they went through the monster of a world, the more bizarre it became.
Even Wonderland wasn't as insane compared to this place. It was like something out of the books were demons were spawned and no light could be found. Yet this must be why it was called a Heartless world. Here there was nothing but darkness and decay.
Death, this placed felt like death, real death, or at least a death that was even more unpleasant the actual underworld. This must have been the heart of darkness from were everything Sora and his friends had faced had battled.
Carefully, Goofy extended his hand through the green beam managing to go right through it with ease.
"Hmm…" Goofy tapped his chin. "Look like some kind of portal."
"Should we go through?" Donald asked.
Kairi nodded. "I think so, maybe it leads to the next platform." She walked forward Sora running up after her.
As they went straight through the beam Sora came to see that he no longer was in the strange dark world, but he stood upon a familiar sight, the First District in Traverse Town. Yet it was not as he once remembered. Instead of the cozy village he had grown so fond up, this place looked abandoned. Not a single person could be found. The buildings were in decay and some of them were destroyed or on fire. It was a nightmare, a complete and absolute nightmare.
Sora felt something in his heart leap out and sink as he looked upon this once lovely town. "W-What happened?" He whispered.
"Is this really Traverse Town?" Goofy asked keeping his shield at the read.
Kairi put her hand over her mouth. "It looks like this place got massacred."
"B-But how?" Sora said his voice cracking. "I-Is it because Leon and the others are back in Hollow Bastion? How we are even going to get back to Xehanort?! Can you contact the Gummi Ship, please?"
Donald pulled out his communicator. "Chip! Dale!" He said yet all he got was static.
"Guess that's a no." Goofy frowned.
Sora stiffened up as he felt something in his stomach churn. "This can't be happening."
"We can't start over, can we?" Kairi asked.
"I-I…" Sora got to his knees putting his hands over his head. "What happened? Are these portals the Heartless are using to get these words?"
"Look." Goofy pointed to Cid's old shop in the center, it was completely destroyed. "Gawrsh."
Sora eyes widened. "No way!"
"Um, fella's." Donald tugged on Sora's shoulder pointing to one of the roofs.
Heartless began to arrive, not just a few Heartless but many Heartless. Several large in size, a few flying up in the night sky there yellow eyes all beaming down towards them. Sora felt fear overtake him. Normally, he'd be ready to take on the Heartless in a second. But right now, seeing a place he loved burned and destroyed, the idea of all the people he had met, those not back in Hollow Bastion lost their hearts or worse. He held onto his Keyblade but he couldn't move. That was until he felt something warm hold onto his hand.
"Sora!" Kairi cried. "I don't think this is Traverse Town."
Sora was still frozen Kairi gripping tighter.
"Sora, listen to me! I don't think this is Traverse Town, something doesn't feel right about it. I don't know what it is, it just...Well, it just doesn't seem like there is any light here. I-I don't know why I think this way, but you have to believe me, this can't be Traverse Town.".
"How do you know that?!" Sora asked angrily. "This world could be like Neverland, time stopped and maybe out there the Heartless are taking over world right now!"
"Come on Sora, trust your instincts, forget what you see and just believe."
Sora still didn't believe as the Heartless started to encircle them. "I don't know!"
"Well if anything then just believe me in me, okay? Trust me."
Trust me
Trust me
Trust me
Those words, those two simple words were enough to break whatever hold of fear Sora was being consumed by. Suddenly, his Keyblade began to glow as a flash of light blew everything away. The Heartless vanished, Traverse Town went back to looking like it used too although it was still empty and Sora found his confidence again. Things returned back to a normal state as a tiny little green box appeared in the center of the plaza.
"Again?" Sora said as he tapped it transporting him and the others back to another platform.
"Was it all just a vision?" Goofy asked.
Donald shrugged. "Maybe...maybe it's what will happen if these places fall to darkness."
"I hope the other worlds aren't that bad." Kairi thought this time waiting for Sora before entering.
Sadly though, they're weren't.
The world terminals they entered were parodies of their original forms. Horrible nightmare landscapes of what a world controlled by the Heartless looked like. Some with perverted inverse versions of their friends. Agrabah was completely covered in sand, it's magnificent castle a wreck. Olympus was under assault by massive beasts. The Deep Jungle completely on fire. Each world they had to fight their way out of, and each time Sora started to become consumed by more and more fear after realizing just what losing could mean.. In Halloween Town, the monsters ran rampant, terrorizing and hurting instead of giving fun scares of joy.
"I thought these monsters were fun scary, not scary scary." Kairi ran as she got chased by a group of mummy Heartless.
Sora knocked out the werewolf back. "They were, it's like we're looking in the future."
"Maybe this is what the worlds will become if the darkness takes over?" Donald suggested as he blasted back a horde of shadows.
If this was true, then the idea of Darkness taking over was now even more horrifying than she could possibly ever imagine. For the whole journey, he had feared what could happen if his enemies would win. Now looking at the possibility, seeing all the world's he had visited and love turning into this sort of hellish nightmare.
"Let's get out of here!" Sora shouted firing another round of light from the Keyblade.
After another round Sora was exhausted getting to his knees and tired. "How many more?" He breathes heavily.
"Come on, just one more." Kairi said looking out at the distance. "Just a bit further."
"Just seeing all those worlds though, all my friends, all the people we met, and how it can all fall apart."
Kairi helped him back up. "Come on, one more, just one more."
Sora took a deep breath and was again blinded by the light as they entered the final world terminal. Opening them up, he found that he was in a familiar stone hallway, above them a familiar red heart shaped symbol gazed over them.
"Hollow Bastion." Sora whispered as he walked down the narrow hall with the others.
-000-
They reached a dead end rather quickly, the only other opening was that to a small room. Inside was a large machine with several golden pipes attached to a large machine. It clicked and cackled and in the center was a large book laid across the metal, opened to one particular chapter in particular.
Kairi, her curiosity getting the better of her ,walked up to it and read it aloud. "Ones born of the heart and darkness, devoid of hearts, ravage all worlds and bring desolation. Seize all hearts and consummate the great heart. All hearts to be one, one heart to encompass all. Realize the destiny: the realm of Kingdom Hearts. The great darkness sealed within the great heart. Progeny of darkness, come back to the eternal darkness. For the heart of light shall unseal the path. Seven hearts, one Keyhole, one key to the door. The door of darkness, tied by two keys. The door to darkness to seal the light. None shall pass but shadows, returning to the darkness. One born of the heart and darkness, hunger for every heart until the dark door opens."
"Do you think this was part of Ansem research?" Sora asked.
"Maybe. Sounds strange though, it seems everything is so dark with these people. Does anyone believe in light anymore?"
Sora raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"You know, believe in the light? Like my grandmother's story, where the light defeated the darkness in the end and rebuilt the worlds because of the light found in the heart of children."
"That's an oddly specific story" Donald muttered.
"My Grandma had a lot of odd specific stories"
"Sounds like a well versed lady" Goofy chuckled.
Sora was about to think about it, but was interrupted as several large demon Heartless emerged by the machine. "Oh no, not again!" He shouted stepping back, Keyblade defending them as they tried to find an exit.
They ran, they ran as fast as they could, seeing a dark portal open up towards them as they headed down the hall.
"Jump in that portal." Sora shouted.
"Convenient." Goofy added.
They jumped through just before the Heartless managed to get close enough to grab them. Everyone had made it.
"Now where are we?" Donald moaned.
Sora sighed, "I hope it's somewhere quiet."
Slowly Sora looked up and saw before him now, the largest horde of Heartless he had ever seen before. Shadows, Behemoths, Angel Stars, Neo-Shadows, Dark Balls, Invisibles. All sorts of Heartless and the very end of the room, a Heart shaped door that was locked.
"Oh boy." Sora sighed.
Kairi took his hand and glared at the enemies before them. "We can do it together, Sora!"
"Together."
One last battle before the end, and one last showdown, as Heartless after Heartless attacking them. Sora using ever amount of his strength that he possible could. Donald and Goofy provided back up and Kairi by his side using her arrow as well as the light inside her. It was four against an army, yet even amidst the grand sea of darkness these tiny beams of light shun brighter than any other shadow that could be cast over them. Each wave they defeated magically unlocked a part of the door.
"Is this what it was like?" Kairi asked keeping near Sora.
"Like what?" Sora asked.
"Like fighting, all the time when you went to those worlds, was this was it like for you?"
Sora nodded. "Pretty much, though there was one thing that's different."
"What? You're a better fighter?"
Sora shook his head. "No, I have you."
Kairi smiled and felt a burst of light shine through her projecting outward and pushing the Heartless. The light was the brightest it's ever been wiping out every single Heartless in the cavern. Finally causing everything to return silent and for them to enter one more chamber.
"More chambers." Donald moaned.
Sora ignored him as he saw right in front of them now, a small wooden door standing before him. It was simple and small, yet it was also very familiar. This was the same door Sora had saw in his dreams, it was the same door he saw in the Island.
This was it, beyond this door, Xehanort had to be behind this door.
"Careful guys." Sora said sniffing. " Something big is beyond that door."
"Then we'll face it together, right?" Kairi replied.
Sora looked at Kairi and smiled. "It amazes me how brave you are."
"Me?!" Kairi said looking confused. "If anything I'm surprised by you, you've been doing it longer. Without Riku or me, just these two-no offense"
"None taken" Goofy said, Donald didn't look that amused.
"Sora I-" Kairi looked sad, "Again I missed out, I should have been there by your side, with Riku, together the three of us, going out, seeing the world. I want to make sure that this time I can make a difference in this fight just like you are, like Riku, like everyone else I met when I woke up. I mean come on it's amazing! One minute it was just the three of us on the Island now...Now it's a whole universe fighting the same fight against darkness, and evil...It really is like a fairy tale".
"Oh, trust me. I was pretty scared when I started but you, you are just taking this with stride and that's really inspiring"
Kairi giggled. "Well, it's easy when I have friends by my side."
"No, I mean it Kairi." Sora took her hand now causing her blush. "You were asleep this whole time, yet you want to be with me, and fight...I can see why you are a Princess of Heart."
"Sora I-" Kairi paused to think of words. "I mean, as long a we're together right?"
"Well it's like we always said." Goofy pointed out. "Smile darn ya smile."
Sora smiled and nodded, looking at his friends he felt more confident than he ever felt. Maybe they would defeat Xehanort. Together no darkness could truly stop them.
Sora
Smile darn ya smile.
And there is nothing that you cannot overcome.
Smile, darn ya smile.
And maybe Lady Luck will soon give ya a call.
Things are never black as they are painted.
Time for you and joy to get acquainted.
Make life worth wild.
And come on Smile, darn ya smile.
"Great Song, Sora...But how does that help?" Kairi asked.
"It's the song of our world." Goofy pointed out. "It helps us get through the tough times, that you gotta continue to hope for something better, even if things seem rough. For sometime a smile is all yuh got."
Kairi scratched her cheek unsure. "Well, if you say so."
Sora took Kairi by the hand and smiled. "Come on, so long as we're together, nothing can stop us, not the Heartless, not the darkness, not Xehanort."
-000-
Despite the bravado, Sora was scared. He knew what sort of power Xehanort could wield. He knew that no matter if his friends were with him, he could unleash great damage. Part of him wished that he could just tell them to leave and let him face Xehanort alone, but he knew now that was impossible, nor would they want to leave. This was going to be a fight to the bitter end. Sora really wished that Riku was here, then all of his friends would truly by his side.
"You'll be okay," Kairi said taking his hand again, "I know you will, you've made it this far, you are the Keyblade Master'
Sora smirked, "Yeah, well, being a Keyblade Master doesn't mean much to me. There were others before me, and probably, or hopefully others after me...If I win, and don't have the universe fall to darkness on my account"
"Hey, even in the darkness there is always the tiniest bit of light," Kairi said.
"Wow, that's profound"
"I have my moments"
"Still…." Sora sighed, "It should be us ...You, me and Riku...The three of us ...It should have been the three of us from the start….Not that I don't love you guy"
"No offense taken Sora" Goofy smiled.
Sora looked embarrassed. "Still, it should be us...all of us together"
"It can be" Kairi said, "Like you said, your friends are your power, so, if they are in your heart, then...They are with you right?"
Sora again couldn't help but just smile. He knew that she could take care of herself, never one to need rescuing even back home. Whenever Riku or he tried to be chivalrous knights like the ones they read about in the stories, Kairi would always find a way to outdo both of them or just knock over the side of the head for being idiots. Yet it was these traits that made Sora feel so strong about her. That iron will and determination to just keep moving forward. Reminded him of his mother in some way, and that was always a role model he looked up.
Sora just turned to see a door in front of them he took a deep breath, he walked towards it but paused as something echoed in his ear.
Careful this is the last haven you'll find here.
"The voice." Sora stepped back in shock.
"Voice?" Kairi asked. "What voice."
"The voice….In my dream."
"Dream?" Kairi raised a eyebrow before realizing, "Oh...The dream...You're dreams!"
"Yes, remember those dreams I used to have" Sora explained, "There was always a voice, and ...and it's talking to me...Right now"
Beyond there is no light to protect you.
But don't be afraid.
Your heart is the mightiest weapon of all.
Remember you are the one who will open the door to light.
"Come on Sora, I wanna stop Xehanort so you and I can go on even more adventures together!" Kairi said giving him a sly smile before turning it into a soft one. "I'll always be with you, no matter what."
Sora nodded. "Yeah, will have lots of adventures together." He could feel something inside him warm up as he thought of the idea of he and Kairi together, going on adventures, traveling the world. All the things he would show her, the experiences he would share. It was the same feeling he felt when she asked him to join her and take the raft for themselves.
Closing his eyes he put his hand over his heart. Then right there, he knew and understood exactly what he needed to do. He opened the door as a bright beaming light consumed in.
Sora was beside himself right now. Who would have thought that it was all coming to ahead? After all the toil, battles, and sacrifices made that finally the end of this great quest was finally going to come to ahead.
This young Islander who had come from nothing, just an average kid living with parents, a bit cocky at points but now he had grown. The months passed, he saw things that he never thought to see before. Met friends and even made a few enemies along the way. Yet now everything was leading up to this, one final showdown with the enemy hidden within the shadows. Here on this world, Xehanort waited, awaiting his moment to open the door, and unleash the darkness within.
It was now or never.
Opening his eyes, Sora was shocked by what he saw.